StateoftheART is pleased to announce the winner of the StateoftheART Gallery Award 2021.

The Award aims to champion contemporary art by emerging artists resident in South Africa, increasing exposure for their work, and encouraging further professional development opportunities. Entrants were asked to submit work to the theme ‘On The Brink: Visualising Climate Change’ and were challenged to engage with the reality of climate crisis and its impact within a South African context.

The 2021 Award recipient is Sylvester Zanoxolo Mqeku, who is currently studying towards his Masters degree at the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein.

The ten shortlisted finalists were selected from hundreds of entries by artists from across South Africa. Two works by each of the finalists went on show earlier this month for the final round of judging in a group exhibition. This year’s panel of esteemed judges are Ashraf Jamal, writer and art critic; Strijdom van der Merwe, Africa’s foremost land artist; Nadja Daehnke, Director of the Irma Stern Museum; Lucinda Jolly, arts lecturer, writer & academic - and Jennifer Reynolds, owner of StateoftheART.  The Award Finalists exhibition reflects a broad range of media. As well as sand-cast ceramics by Mqeku, the show features the work of: Janet Ormond, Theophelus Rikhotsu, Rozelle Greyling, Tumelo Mphela, Kristen McClarty, Given Muronga , Mfundo Sizwe Ziphozonke Mngomezulu, Liesl Roos and Dominic de Villiers.

The judges highly commended Janet Ormond and Theophelus Rikhotso whose artworks highlights the talent, variety of mediums, and ideas in contemporary art practice.

As the winner of the 2021 Award, Mqeku receives a cash prize of R40 000 to support the development of new work, and a solo exhibition with StateoftheART Gallery in 2022.

Gallery owner Jennifer Reynolds said, “In its third year, the Gallery Award continues to raise the profile of contemporary artists working at the vanguard of their discipline. As the only artist in Africa with a ceramic studio dedicated to the use of sand-casting, Mqeku fully embodies the spirit of the Award.”

The Award Finalists Exhibition concludes Saturday 30 October 2021.

StateoftheART is pleased to announce the winner of the StateoftheART Gallery Award 2021

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About StateoftheART

StateoftheART is an innovative boutique-style gallery and e-commerce platform representing selected emerging and mid-career visual artists from across South Africa.Established in 2010 and a pioneer in the online art market in South Africa, StateoftheART showcases a carefully curated collection of affordable contemporary art conveniently available through their 'click-to-buy' service for collectors unable to visit the Cape Town gallery in person. StateoftheART opened its physical doors in the center of Cape Town in 2013 with two objectives: to meet the desire of artists for their works to be seen in 'real-life' and to reassure buyers of the quality of artwork, giving them peace of mind when investing online.

The gallery hosts an exciting program of exhibitions by up-and-coming local artists at their Cape Town gallery located at The Square, 50 Buitenkant Street, in the trendy east precinct of the city center.

For more information visit the website or contact:Jennifer Reynolds

E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
T: +27 (0)61 129 1899

StateoftheART is pleased to announce the winner of the StateoftheART Gallery Award 2018.

The Award aims to champion contemporary art by emerging artists resident in South Africa, increasing exposure for their work, and encouraging further professional development opportunities.

The winning artist, Jo Roets, is based in Cape Town, and her light relief clay sculptures reference the various cultures of South Africa: symbolic patterns and shapes inspired by Islamic prayer mats, Ndebele aprons and neck pendants, Zulu earplugs and beer pots - and patterns from her grandmother’s doilies.

The ten shortlisted finalists were selected from hundreds of artists from across South Africa who applied for the Award. Two works by each of the finalists went on show earlier this month for the final round of judging in a group exhibition held at StateoftheART in Cape Town. Mirjam Asmal, Director, AVA; Mandy Conidaris, Director OOTC Gallery and artist; Carol Hodes, Curator and Collector; Macx Ncevu, Award Winning Photographer and Jennifer Reynolds, Director of StateoftheART, comprised this year’s panel of respected art professionals who named Roets the overall Award winner.

The Award Finalists exhibition reflected a broad range of media. As well as Jo Roets, the show featured the work of: Adele van Heerden, Chloe Obermeyer, Lebogang Mabusela, Anina Deetlefs, Janna Prinsloo, Tina Teles, Anna-Carien Goosen, Nadine Hansen and Lezanne Kotze.

As the 2018 winner, Jo Roets will receive a prize of a solo exhibition in 2019, and a R10 000 cash award to support the development of new work.

Jo Roets said, “Entering this competition connected me with fellow artists and like-minded people. StateoftheART did not follow the typical art competition model but invented a fresh and creative way of presenting this competition, changing the typical format and chronology of events. This meant that finalists had the opportunity to meet each other on social media before meeting in real life. This distinct characteristic of StatetoftheART sets them apart from other galleries. They really do value the importance of online presence highly. To have your work and name be seen by thousands of people is a win in itself - a spin-off of being a finalist.

As an artist it is one thing to set out goals. The challenge comes when action needs to be taken towards achieving these goals. Part of the process is working long hours, fighting through self-doubt and hoping that my work would be good enough. This is why I am extremely grateful for winning this award and gaining the recognition that it has afforded me. It is a self-doubt eliminator. My excitement for my very first solo exhibition cannot be contained. I can hardly wait to start the process and to begin planning towards the show.”

Director of StateoftheART, Jennifer Reynolds said, “We are thrilled to be working with Jo Roets and we hope the solo exhibition will present Jo with a fabulous opportunity to develop her work and career, and it will be a real treat for our audience in May 2019.

The quality and standard of work submitted to the inaugural StateoftheART Gallery Award was outstanding and we congratulate the winner and all the entrants on their inspiring artworks. We look forward to following their developing careers, and wish them and each of our shortlisted entrants all the success for the future."

Jo Roets air-dryed clay sculptural pieces are currently on display at StateoftheART.

Join the conversation by using the hashtag #SOTAAward on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can discover more about the exhibiting artists by visiting the Gallery’s website: www.stateoftheart-gallery.com

Cape Town based gallery StateoftheART is pleased to announce the 10 artists shortlisted for the inaugural StateoftheART Gallery Award 2018.

After careful consideration of several hundred entries by artists from around South Africa, the judges have shortlisted 10 artists working across a number of mediums including sculpture, painting and printmaking. The work of the shortlisted artists will go on show in a special exhibition at StateoftheART’s Cape Town gallery from 06 – 22nd September 2018 for the final round of judging.

The winner will be awarded a R10 000 cash prize and a solo exhibition with the gallery in 2019.

For further details on the Award, to be invited to the opening event or to arrange a viewing, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Shortlisted artists:

Jo Roets; Janna Prinsloo; Anna-Carien Goosen; Nadine Hansen; Lezanne Kotze; Adele Van Heerden; Anina Deetlefs; Lebogang Mabusela; Tina Teles; Chloe Obermeyer.

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Notes to the editors
The members of the StateoftheART Gallery Award jury are Mirjam Asmal, director of the AVA; Mandy Conidaris, visual art consultant, art writer, and visual arts educator; Carol Hodes, curator and collector; Masixole Ncevu, award-winning artist and photographer; Jennifer Reynolds, founder of StateoftheART. 

About the Award
StateoftheART launched the inaugural StateoftheART Gallery Award in February 2018, to unearth undiscovered talent by artists from around South Africa and provide a platform for artists to gain industry recognition and boost their career. Five respected people involved in the art industry have selected the shortlist of 10 finalists whose work shows originality, a strong signature in a South African context, and technical skill.

About StateoftheART
Established in 2010, StateoftheART is a boutique gallery specialising in affordable contemporary art by early and mid career South African artists. The gallery offers an online ‘click-to-buy' service for collectors unable to visit in person.

For further media information/interview opportunities please contact
Jennifer Reynolds on 072 4709272 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Andrea Stallbom on 061 129 1899 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.